Destin, Florida, is a sun-soaked haven nestled along the Emerald Coast, known for its pristine white-sand beaches and turquoise Gulf waters. For those seeking a luxurious escape with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, Destin’s beachfront resorts stand out as the epitome of coastal elegance and relaxation. Let’s explore the 10 best beachfront resorts in Destin that promise an unforgettable blend of comfort, stunning views, and unparalleled amenities.
Located on US-98, Pelican Beach Resort is known for its beachfront condos and upscale amenities. Guests can relax on the sugary shores, take a dip in the Gulf-front pool, and explore nearby attractions like the Destin Harbor Boardwalk.
A small and peaceful resort on Scenic 98 route, Crystal Sands offer free beach service on its bigger beach. It is a favorite location for the guests who prefer walking and riding bikes around, and spending a quiter vacation in a less crowded beach. Book our Crystal Sands condo now.
Located on Sandestin Boulevard, this iconic resort boasts a prime beachfront location. With spacious rooms, award-winning dining options, multiple pools, and a rejuvenating spa, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa offers a quintessential beachfront experience.
Tucked between the Gulf of Mexico and a nature preserve, The Henderson is a five-star resort with a private beach, luxurious accommodations, and a full-service spa. Guests can indulge in fine dining while savoring panoramic views of the Gulf.
Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort:
Situated on Scenic Gulf Drive, Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort provides a family-friendly atmosphere with condominium-style accommodations. This resort features well-appointed units, multiple pools, and easy access to both the beach and golf courses.
Spanning over 2,400 acres, Sandestin is a vast resort offering a diverse range of beachfront properties. Visitors can choose from condos and villas, enjoying access to a private beach, championship golf courses, a marina, and vibrant dining and shopping options.
Silver Beach Towers Resort:
Overlooking the Gulf on US-98, Silver Beach Towers Resort offers luxury condominiums with breathtaking Gulf views. Guests can relax by the Gulf-front pools or on their private balconies, reveling in the serenity of the pristine surroundings.
Majestic Sun Condominiums:
Nestled within the Seascape Resort, Majestic Sun is a sought-after destination for spacious condos with panoramic Gulf views. The resort features an indoor/outdoor pool, a fitness center, and convenient beach access, making it ideal for families and couples.
Ariel Dunes at Seascape Resort:
Boasting towering architecture along Scenic Gulf Drive, Ariel Dunes offers modern and stylish condominiums. Guests can enjoy expansive views of the Gulf, access to the resort’s pools, and proximity to Seascape Golf Course.
Destin West Beach and Bay Resort:
Perfectly positioned on Okaloosa Island, Destin West offers a unique blend of beachfront and bayfront accommodations. With multiple pools, a lazy river, and easy access to both the beach and Choctawhatchee Bay, it’s a haven for water enthusiasts.
Offering a comprehensive resort experience, Seascape features beachfront condos, a championship golf course, and tennis facilities. Guests can bask in the sun on the private beach or explore the vibrant offerings of the resort.
Destin’s beachfront resorts embody the essence of a coastal retreat, offering a perfect blend of luxury, natural beauty, and recreational opportunities. Whether you’re seeking a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a place to unwind and recharge, these 10 beachfront resorts in Destin, Florida, promise an unparalleled seaside experience that will leave you with cherished memories of the Emerald Coast.
In preparation for our trip, we had done extensive research on the places we wanted to visit and the route we wanted to take. We had also made reservations for accommodations, car rental, and all the activities we wanted to do. With our plan in mind and excited to start our journey, we got up early the next day and set out to explore Arizona and its wonders. Our first stop was the Grand Canyon, which we had been looking forward to seeing. We made sure to take the time to appreciate all its beauty, and then we would proceed to our next destination, Sedona.
The impetus for our selection of Phoenix as a launching point was the availability of cost-effective flights from Dallas, in addition to the potential to explore the Grand Canyon via Sedona. Our flight was scheduled for the late evening on a Friday, though we gained two hours as Arizona is two hours behind Texas, arriving in Phoenix quite late according to our internal clocks. After picking up our rental car, we headed toward the closest Econo Lodge to the airport to get some rest for the night.
Upon awakening the following morning, we were met with a bright and balmy climate. We opted for Vovomeena, which we had discovered on Yelp, for breakfast. As we made our way to the eatery, the looming cacti created a vivid introduction to the geography of Arizona. The restaurant we chose was a quaint cafe with a relatively short line, and the service was prompt. We were pleased with the quality of the meal, and I can confidently recommend it to anyone with a penchant for American-style breakfast. After finishing our meal, we headed to the Desert Botanical Garden in Papago Park, the largest park in Phoenix. This location is a must-see for anyone visiting the city, particularly if one is interested in desert flora, cacti, and succulents. The park is quite expansive, and it takes about two hours to traverse if one is walking–especially if traveling with children, as we were. At the garden, one can get a taste of the desert environment, stroll amongst the towering cacti, and observe a plethora of animals, such as lizards, birds, squirrels, and mice.
After spending about 2 hours in the park, we made our food, drink, and petrol reinforcements that we would need along the way and set off for Sedona. The journey was quite enjoyable as beautiful scenery accompanied a long part of this road, which is approximately 2.5 hours. The part of the route that starts when approaching Sedona and ends up to Flagstaff is known as the ‘scenic byway’. The rocky area made up of reddish sandstones around Sedona is called the Red Rocks. It is believed that this region has a special energy and people come here to find peace and spend some time taking walks. After walking a short route, we drove into the town with our car. Sedona is a small town, but it is very cute. There are various shops in the town, from fortune tellers to reiki, from those who sell crystals and semi-precious stones to those who sell Indian handicrafts. You can take a lunch break, drink tea, coffee or eat ice cream in the town. If you pass Sedona and continue towards Oak Creek, you will see a park entrance on your left where you can go down to the creek. For a small park entrance fee, you can park your car and walk to the creek. The riverside, surrounded by forests and cliffs, is a peaceful place where you can take short walks or just dip your feet in cold water and rest for a while. After spending some time here, as we were continuing towards Tusayan via Flagstaff, the Double Eagle trading company, which we saw by chance near Valle, caught our attention with its Indian tents in front of it. A place worth taking a short break, especially with children.
After a short break, we continued to Red Feather Lodge, located in Tusayan, Arizona, where we stayed for two nights. Unfortunately, due to our late arrival, we were unable to secure a reservation in a hotel located within the boundaries of the Grand Canyon National Park. Though the drive from Tusayan to the park was only 15 minutes, we would have preferred to stay closer to the edge of the Canyon in order to experience the sunrise and sunset. Upon arriving at Red Feather Lodge, it was nearly sunset and we were exhausted, so we checked in and headed over to Plaza Bonita, a small Mexican restaurant located adjacent to the hotel. Despite receiving mixed reviews on Yelp, our hunger overshadowed any reservations we had about the quality of the food. The next morning, although the light, icy rain outside made us feel somewhat dreary, we set off and stopped at a nearby market before continuing our journey.We stocked up on snacks and drinks to sustain us on our travels, as we knew temperatures in the Grand Canyon could vary drastically between night and day. We made sure that everyone had adequate layers and warm clothing, regardless of the season. To explore the Grand Canyon, we decided to take the western route known as the red line. This route could only be traveled by the free buses provided in the park and had numerous stops. At each stop, we got off the bus to marvel at the views and then continued our journey with the next bus. We hiked from Maricopa Point to Hopi Point for about 1.5 km, although the views were magnificent, the weather was cloudy and occasionally rainy, which obscured the views somewhat. We returned to the red line’s starting point, got into our car and drove to the historical El Tovar hotel in the Grand Canyon Village. After lunch at the hotel, we resumed our journey, stopping at a nearby market to stock up on snacks and drinks. As we ventured further into the park, we were amazed by the incredible beauty of the landscape, which varied drastically from deep canyons to towering plateaus and rocky mountains. We could never have imagined the incredible sights that we would see in the Grand Canyon and we were left in awe of the sheer magnitude and grandeur of the place.
We took a long lunch break and both warmed up and rested. After the meal, the clouds cleared and the weather got a little warmer, and we decided to walk the ‘Trail of Time’, which starts in front of the hotel and ends at Yavapai Point. It’s approximately 6 km long, with the outbound trip being 3km and the return trip being 3km. Along the way, we were able to see many of the beautiful sights that the Grand Canyon has to offer. We had the opportunity to observe the different types of vegetation, observe wildlife, and take in the breathtaking views of the canyon. When we made it back to the hotel, we were exhausted and decided to reward ourselves with a nice ice cream from the nearby Bright Angel Lodge. We were not the only ones with this idea, as the ice cream shop was crowded with many people looking for a sweet treat after their day of exploring. We arrived at Mather Point at the perfect time of day for viewing the sunset. As we watched, the sunlight slowly moved over the canyon, creating a beautiful orange hue throughout the sky. The changing colors of the canyon walls were fascinating, with warm oranges and reds in the foreground, and cooler blues and purples in the distance. The clouds played along too, adding to the beauty of the scene. As the sun slowly set, the shadows of the rocks and trees slowly crept across the landscape. Many people flock to the Grand Canyon around sunset, so it is wise to arrive earlier in the day to avoid the crowds and potential parking problems. After the sun has set, you may be tired and want to rest, so consider having a light dinner in your hotel rather than going out. You can explore the canyon by taking a bus tour, or go on foot, but be aware that it is not possible to take young children down the narrow and steep paths into the valley. An alternative is to get a mule and go down to the valley in the morning. If you plan on traveling the whole valley from south to north, you will need to camp overnight in the valley.
The next morning, we woke up early and grabbed a quick breakfast at the cafe in the market next to Maswik Lodge in the Grand Canyon National Park. We jumped in the car and made our way to Page, Arizona, about 1.5 hours away. Along the way, we stopped at the Grand View Point and the Desert View Point, both with stunning views of the canyon, and the Colorado River. After about 1.5 hours we arrived at HorseShoe Bend, a unique bend in the Colorado River that looks like a horseshoe from above. It is a must-see, but be warned it takes about 15-20 minutes of walking on a desert-like road to get there. Our main destination was Antelope Canyon, located on the Navajo Indian Reservation. Access to the canyon requires purchasing a tour in advance, and there are three companies that offer them. We opted for the 1.5-hour tour, but there are also longer, 2.5-3 hour tours for photographers. The canyon is a narrow tunnel, formed by wind and rain over many years. The tour was truly fascinating, and the time flew by. We were glad to have been able to experience the beautiful scenery of the Grand Canyon National Park and the unique Antelope Canyon.
Our original plan for the day was to spend the night in Page, Arizona, but after our tour of the area concluded, we decided to push on and continue our journey. At 16.00, we stopped off at the Big John’s Texas BBQ garden where we enjoyed burgers and ice cream before setting off again. We booked a room at the Best Western near the eastern entrance of Zion National Park, which meant we could cancel our hotel reservation in Page and plan to stay there the following day. As we drove out of Page, we were treated to the breathtaking sight of the westernmost end of Lake Powell off to the right of the road. We stopped to take in the view, which was especially beautiful during the evening hours, before continuing along our journey for another 1.5 hours until we reached our hotel. After grabbing a bite to eat in the restaurant, we settled down for the night, ready to make the most of our visit to Zion National Park the following day.
On the morning of our fourth day, the sky was clear and the sun shone brightly. After having a hearty breakfast at the hotel restaurant, we set off on the Mt. Carmel Scenic Byway which leads into Zion National Park. After a thirty minute drive, we arrived at the tunnel that had been carved into the mountain and emerged among the grand, towering rocks. We had to leave our car in front of the Zion Human History Museum and take the bus so as to explore the park. Our first stop was at Zion Lodge and from there, we took the Emerald Pools route which is ideal for families with kids. We took a break at the stream that ran alongside the path, dipping our feet into the cool water and enjoying a picnic.
We got on the bus and headed to different scenic spots. At the last stop, we chose to take a longer walk and explore the Temple of Sinawava. We walked for 45 minutes and returned, stopping to rest and enjoy the views along the way. The next part of the journey involved a 2.5-hour drive to our final destination, Las Vegas. Along the way, we were surrounded by stunning desert landscapes, including cacti and Joshua trees. Upon arrival in Las Vegas in the evening, we felt a bit overwhelmed. We hadn’t done much research for this part of the trip. We decided to take our car to get around since most hotels provide free valet service. This saved us time from having to park the car ourselves and find the exit in the huge hotels. We only had one night in Las Vegas so we wanted to make sure we used our time wisely.
We arrived at the Venetian Hotel, a stunningly detailed recreation of Venice, complete with canals, gondolas, and even Venetian-style architecture. We walked along the canal, admiring the intricate details of the buildings and watching the gondolas go by. We then moved on to the Circus Circus hotel, which we thought would be the highlight of the trip for the kids. Unfortunately, the atmosphere was rather dull, with only a few coin games to keep them occupied. We decided to move on and headed to the Bellagio hotel. We watched the fantastic pool show which captivated us all. We then took a break at the cafe before heading to our hotel for the night. Since we were traveling with children, we were unable to explore the many casinos that Las Vegas has to offer. We decided to forgo any shows as our time was limited. We did, however, take a ride on the giant Ferris wheel located near our hotel. The wheel seemed to be barely moving, though, so we decided against it and carried on. On the morning of our last day, we had breakfast at the famous Mon Ami Gabi cafe in the Paris Vegas hotel. We enjoyed the atmosphere and felt a sense of Parisian style. With our 5-day trip now complete, we flew home to Dallas with happy memories of our time in Las Vegas.
Hiking under the desert sun may not be your favorite vacation but in case you decide to visit Palm Springs one day, I would strongly recommend that you do in May before it gets extremely hot. We took advantage of Memorial Day to make a week long trip. After flying to Los Angeles and spending 2 days on the beach; walking in the mornings at Venice Canals.
On our third day, we drove our rental car to Palm Springs. After 2 hours, you can feel that it is getting hotter. Once we arrived, we were welcome by an oasis in the desert decorated by palm trees. The town is stuck in 50s with its architecture and decorations. Although it was hot, we found a lot of escapes in the nature. First stop was Indian Canyon. Relatively easier to hike, we spent 2 hours with kids.
For hiking lovers, another option is to went up to San Jacinto mountain with cable car and have a cooler hike under the trees. The view of the town and infinite desert from the top of the mountain is priceless. I would recommend choosing an accommodation with a swimming pool, as it is hot even at nights. It is great for kids to have an afternoon escape in the pool
Palm Springs has a small, but very lively center especially in the evenings. Lulu is one of the popular places from the many to dine. Restaurants of Ace and Parker hotels are my suggestions for breakfast and lunch. Although the value is not great for the food, Parker Hotel‘s decoration is worth seeing
Another popular place for breakfast is Cheeky’s. If you go there early in the morning, you can ssave the wait time. Other activity we did was the Architectural Tour. You cannot find a better 50s architecture anywhere else. If you are interested in architecture, search internet about it. Walk or drive, up to you.
When we planned our trip, of course we could not skip the Joshua Tree National park which is an hour drive. If you leave early in the morning, it is a day trip. We had our breakfast on the way at Crossroads Cafe. As the name suggests, the park is all about Joshua trees, they are everywhere. Looks like a cactus. The hiking trails are all sand.
On some trailss, we did not come by to any soul for an hour; not counting lizards, mice and birds. We entered the park from west and followed the main road. Parked our car, did our hikes and drove down to south. That is doable in a day. We first hiked on Barker Dam Nature Trail with kids for 45 minutes. As it is an easier hike, there were souls this time. Then we did Wall Street Mill trail which took 1.5 hours. If you are patient enough to do the trail, you will see an abandoned mine and rotten cars from 30s at the end.
Continuing to south, Skull Rock Natura Trail and Arch Rock were our next stops. These areas host tenting campgrounds. Not taking the heat during the day, it would be a wonderful experience to stay there overnight and watch the stars. If you exit the park from south, next stop should be Cholla Cactus Garden Bu bölgelerde güzel çadır kamp alanları vardı. Another option is to drive back and leave from the west entrance to Palm Springs.
Given that we would spend our summer this year in the US, we preferred to make a road trip from Dallas, TX to somewhere with crystal waters. We have a heard a few options: Padre Island, Galveston, Orange Beach and Destin. We decided to hit two birds with one stone and decided to drive to Destin, FL via New Orleans, giving us the opportunity to make both a cultural and abeach vacation.
New Orleans is 8 hours drive from Dallas. As we have kids, we stopped at the aquapark in Tyler for 2 hours for kids to have fun. Tired kids mean sleeping kids. We prefered to stay overnight near the plantations which are 1 hour away from New Orleans, in Alexandria. If you have a little more time, you can drive and stay in Baton Rouge, where we stopped next day to eat ‘beignets’. Coffee Call in Baton Rouge is a great stop for that.
Our next destination Oak Alley Plantation is 1 hour to Baton Rouge. Although there are other plantations near Mississippi River, Oak Alley is the biggest and most famous. The buildings where slaves lived and stayed in the past are now part of a museum. It is impressive to go back in time and imagine that era. The path in the front of the building surrounded by old trees is spectacular. You can tour inside the building with a guide, but we suggest that you do it a bit early in the morning.
After the plantation visit, we drove another hour to New Orleans. After settling down at our hotel in French Quarter, Provincial, we had a quick walk around the town. Looking forward to tasting the cajun cuisine, we ate our first meal at New Orleans Creole Cookery. Our waiter was talkative and told a lot about the menu. Baked oysters with various sauces tasted great. Cajun Creole did not only influence Louisiana but other surrounding states as we had very similar tastes in Destin. After the dinner, we walked around Jackson Square, and window shopped in French Market. Don’t forget to try pralines !
Although New Orleans had great architecture, streets, balconies, food, music on the streets; the city is very dirty and stinky especially in a summer day. City is trying their best to clean as much as possible, but puddles of urine can easily be observed around. From that perspective, it was not the best place to visit with small kids. The weather was very humid, sometimes rainy. It is a city you can walk around but if you want to see places other than in French Quarter; you can either drive or use the tram.
Our 2nd day began by a breakfast at Stanley followed by a visit to Mardi Gras museum. This is the museum where artists create and store their Mardi Gras celebration vehicles. The museum is a great way to monetize the Mardi Gras in the other months. After the museum, we walked through the streets of Garden District. I think the best part of our visit was this day. After an hour of walk, our tour ended in Lafayette Cemetery, which is interesting because the graves are not under the ground but over. Rum House was great for lunch.
After lunch, we drove by Bywater neighborhood by car, there were a lot of colorful houses. Dinner was at Sylvain in French Quarters, delicious food and a seating area on the outdoor yard. After the dinner, we walked around the Bourbon Street, which hosts the bars, night clubs and shops along with street musicians and shows.
Next day breakfast was at Croissant d’Or Patisserie. Tiny but historical venue where you can have delicious croissants. This was followed but a tour with a real steam boat Natchez on Missisipi. The tour lasts around 2 hours, and offers open buffet with live jazz music. Dinner was in Oceana Grill, which at first glance looks like a simple bar but upstairs was enjoyable.
After a breakfast at Cafe Beignet, we said goodbye to New Orleans and began our drive to Destin via Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama. Another option is to take the ferry from Dauphin Island to Fort Morgan (we were told that it requires advance booking). In Gulf Shores, we rested in Bahama Bob’s Beach Side Cafe.
Orange Beach had a good beach but the water was green like in a lake. We were glad to have not chosen Orange Beach for our beach vacation. After arriving at Destin, we settled in our condo at Pelican Beach Resort for our week long stay. We impressed to see those white sand and crystal color water next day. There are so many accommodation options in the area from hotels to vacation rentals but Pelican Beach Resort gave us a lot of amenities including pools and beach, great views from our condo.
The weather and sea conditions were varying in Destin. Mostly it was sunny and hot, but also rained for a while. Gulf was wavy. We also tried different beaches nearby such as Henderson Beach Park. We also tried a beach in Okaloosa Island but there was too much of algae. The view around Destin bridge was spectacular.
Next day we rented pontoon boat from the harbor. You can rent those with your car driver’s license and be your own captain for a few hours. It was great to swim around the Crab Island and Destin Bridge. For the afternoon, we went to Topsail Hill State Park. Bicycle rental shop closes at 5pm but we rented our bikes just before that and you can return after they close. It is a great park to ride your bicycle near the beach. There is also a lake in it to visit. The park is also an RV park, I am sure that would be a great experience next time. !
Other than those, there are various activities in Destin: Sea World with giant aquariums and dolphin shows, zoo, gokart, amusement and aquaparks. We wanted to spend more to on the beach though. Our evening ritual was to watch the sunset and then have a nice dinner. Our condo on 17th floor had a perfect sunset as well as Destin and Baytowne Marinas, Topsail Hill State Park.
